Sheffield United Training
Academy

Sean Bean was the man who cut the ribbon
to mark a major step towards the completion of United's £5
million Hallam FM Academy @ Sheffield United on Friday afternoon.

The star of film and television, director
of Sheffield United FC and 100 per cent Blade, officially opened
the indoor area - the largest indoor synthetic football pitch
in South Yorkshire, whilst the U12 Academy players put on a skills
demonstration in the new facility.

The whole complex will be completed and
fully opened by the end of the year when it will provide some
of the best facilities in the country for the football stars of
the future.

When complete the three-storey building
will house changing rooms, educational and conference facilities,
parents lounge, cafeteria and viewing galleries, medical facilities,
performance gymnasium, physio facilities, office accommodation
for academy staff and space to provide on-site living accommodation
for up to 35 young players. Outdoors, there will eventually be
five pitches, a full-sized floodlit pitch and a goalkeeping practice
area.

ACTOR Sean Bean was back in Sheffield
yesterday - ahead of the big steel city derby between Sheffield
Wednesday and Sheffield United - to unveil a multi-million pound
academy that it is hoped will generate some of the city's future
football stars.

The star of film blockbusters such as
Lord of the Rings and Goldeneye launched the first phase of Sheffield
United's training complex for promising youngsters with the opening
of the largest indoor synthetic pitch in South Yorkshire.

Bean, a die-hard fan who sports a '100
per cent Blade' tattoo, is a director of the club and is keen
to promote the board's policy of developing their own players
rather than buying players in the transfer market.

When the academy is completed it will
include a three-storey complex with an indoor soccer arena, conference
facilities, a medical suite, offices and accommodation for up
to 35 young players.

The Blades are also developing a former
social club at Shirecliffe into a training centre that will be
available at times for public use.